Autumn Cottage Diarist

Bringing the Wild Inside...

Some of you will remember how pleased I was to find a lovely 'sleeping fox' cushion a few years ago at the local branch of 'Next'. I am always on the look-out for interior decorating items with particular themes, and it will be no surprise that one of my favourite themes is that of 'Wildlife', but - (as in many other areas of my life!) - I am particular as to those items I find that are both affordable and of good quality. It's been very pleasing, therefore, to find a couple more cushions over the last couple of months which fit nicely into that bracket - positive bargains, in fact. It's surprising what you can find if you keep your 'thrifty' eye open!

Post Christmas sales come up with the goods! This beautiful watercolour print stag - £4.00 UK pounds from Tesco

The reverse print on the stag cushion - and with the motifs facing both ways - how I wish other manufacturers would do this - they would sell twice as many products to me if I could buy matching, bi-directional pairs!

...and this little character - a lovely, woven 'tapestry' - a bargain fiver from Dunelm Mill, who are always worth a visit for a huge range of soft furnishings at good prices and in a great range of colours.

I love 'Thrifty Interiors' - how about you? I'd love to hear about some of your own special bargains.

Is Autumn Already Knocking at the Door?

An item in the creamy neutral palette this Autumn at Matelan*; Cushion - £8.00 UK pounds

Yesterday was the sort of summer's day that I long for - Sunday quiet, not unbearably hot, but balmy enough to encourage a delicious languidity. It made it a pleasure to eat lunch of globe artichokes, paella and nectarines out on the patio, under the vine, then potter about afterwards, doing a bit of desultory weeding in the herb garden.

But I feel that Autumn is definitely approaching - far out on the margins of the month and in just the tiniest of signs; heavy mist rolling down the hill at 5 am, seedheads setting on so many plants, leaves turning and falling in the wind which blows up from nowhere.

There is always a partial sadness - to me - in the distant sight of Autumn, with the promise of nights drawing in and the likelihood of cold or wet days to be endured, but the pleasures are there too, one of which is to be able once again to bring the colours of autumn into the house.

In my weekly foray to the local retail park today, (yes, on one of my 'Orange Label' plant hunts!), I also noticed that autumn colours are creeping into the Interiors stores' displays. So here are just a few images from what just one of those stores - inexpensive but imaginative Matelan - has to offer for the coming months. By carefully choosing just one or two items, you can create a very charming and welcoming interior for minimal expenditure - always something close to my heart!

The Stag - a popular and even more ubiquitous theme this year

Purchased as an addition to the Hearts collection in the summerhouse - £4.00

Inexpensive (£5.00) and (I can vouch) extremely cosy throws, also with a Stag theme. Keep several in different rooms for unexpectedly chilly evenings, maybe?

For rooms needing a lighter autumnal touch, perhaps a palette of 'fading hydrangea' colours? candle lamps £12.00 each

A striking, machine embroidered Kookaburra & butterflies cushion - just one of these in a small room would make a statement and set a colour theme; £10.00

A whole range of neutral shades...

...which will harmonise so beautifully with these rich rusty reds - the colours that I wait for which  make Autumn so special.

(*no affiliation)

(1 UK pound = $1.56 at today's rates)

May Flies By!

Hello again, friends, after far too long. I was so looking forward to sharing the slow unfurling of Springtime here at Autumn Cottage but then - to teach me a lesson in making assumptions - along came a bunch of annoying health issues, including a nasty virus, to knock me over and keep me away from the keyboard and the camera for over a month.

I've been sneaking out, though, to capture a few images of spring and early summer creeping in here; well - creeping in a month ago - now it is galloping about. Not many words today, but here are a few pictures to keep you up to date. Doesn't everything look GREEN??!!

The 'Garden of Shame' - now 'The Cottage Garden' - new planting going in

The very old Laburnum tree in flower

The weeping pear - Pyrus salcifolia pendula

A little book-nook under the tree

St Francis has taken up his place by the pond again, after spending winter in the summerhouse...

...which is now fully 'open for business'

Another book-nook - under the apple tree; all that blossom will hopefully give plenty of apples for chutney-making in the autumn...

For UK readers - I've been able to indulge my dragonfly obsession at Matelan, with this lovely throw (£5.00) and cushion (£10.00) - now I await the return of dragonflies around the pond

...and as always, Pip is available to ornament the scene!